Husband of deceased 360-pound Warren woman found lying in feces is accused of felony abuse

By NORB FRANZ

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The husband of an obese, bed-ridden woman who died six days after Warren paramedics found her lying in feces has been accused of felony abuse, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith announced Wednesday.

Michael Dewayne Brooks, 37, was named by Smith for a warrant charging him with second-degree abuse of a vulnerable adult. The offense is punishable by up to four years in prison.

Brooks was the primary caretaker for his wife, Yolanda Reese-Brooks, 41. She had suffered a crushed pelvis and ruptured bladder in a February 2011 auto accident.

On Oct. 16, police and firefighters who arrived at the Brooks' home in the Kings Pointe Apartments found her in a state of preliminary decomposition, covered and surrounded by feces.

Firefighters wearing HAZMAT gear to protect them from biohazards knocked down the door wall of the ground-floor apartment to extricate the 360-pound woman and her bed from her home. She died Oct. 22 at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Madison Heights.

Oakland County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. L.J. Dragovic, who conducted the autopsy, ruled that the Warren woman died of morbid obesity and complications from multiple injuries. Dragovic also determined that her death was an accident.

Mr. Brooks told investigators he had allowed his wife to lie in that state for at least eight or nine days, Smith said.

"Michael Brooks' shameful neglect of his wife rises to the level of criminal abuse," the prosecutor said. "It's unthinkable to allow a loved one to suffer in this disgraceful manner."

Michael Brooks has not yet been arraigned.

"We are contacting him," Warren Police Commissioner Jere Green said. "We'll make arrangements for him to turn himself in. I don't think he's a risk to flee. That way, he can contact his attorney and come in."

Investigators say Brooks has been cooperative throughout the investigation.

The apartment had no beds or mattresses for the couple's four children, ages 13, 11 and 2-year-old twins. The refrigerator was empty, except for spoiled meat on the bottom shelf, Smith said.

The four children were removed from the home by Child Protective Services and placed temporarily with a sister of Yolanda Reese-Brooks. A hearing is expected to be scheduled to determine permanent placement.

Green said the children appeared "clean, nourished and adjusted" at the time their mother was found lying in filth. The apartment was infested with insects, including maggots on the mother's bed.

Detectives interviewed local school officials to determine whether there was any indication of serious problems in the children's home.

"There were no red flags or indicators to them," Green said.

The police commissioner added that school representatives spoke to Yolanda Reese-Brooks by phone this school year about student activities, but she reported no concerns.